melissaanne: Christmas

Thursday, January 15, 2009

O55 & D35: Starting Anew

So I've wavered, I've wobbled - all in all I've pretty much fallen flat on my face trying to get these newsletters started. But I know I need to do better. So I am going to do better.

I've never been one for outspoken and obvious New Year's Resolutions and really anytime I h ave been it's about being healthier in order to lose a little weight, or being more organized in order to to... be more organized - all of which sort of just HAPPEN in January because I'm a nutcase. But mostly, being pregnant this time around, I happened to stop and think about non-physical resolutions. I wasn't going to start jogging (well, and then subsequently go into labor, lol) or eat less - by gosh darn it, I AM going to do newsletters!

So I'm starting over strong in January of 2009 with a double whammy and a little dose left over from Christmas.

You both grew so much last year, both physically and mentally. It's hard for me to even look at photographs of you and realize that you weren't always the size you are now. Last night, during my mini nesting session, I organized photos from earlier in your childhood(s) and was just blown away by how your sweet little faces were just basically now glued onto bigger bodies! Duncan will always be one of those kids that loses the "Who Is This Baby?" contest because he will look EXACTLY the same for the rest of his life. Olivia has changed enough that she could pass for an older sister of the said baby in the photograph, possibly tricking some but not enough. The real giveaway would be a video of her incessant chattering, IDENTICAL to the incessant chattering that occurs every day.

Olivia and her new purse from Mimi & Papa
Taken 12/25/2008 at the Wagners' Home

You were both fascinated again by the snow this year, despite it's late arrival, and begged to go out in the snow and play. I, of course, caved and allowed you to do so - only to be thanked by the hysterical crying faces of "It's COLD out there!" Gee. Perhaps that's why it's SNOWING.

No matter how much I bundle you up, you both always manage to find a way to get cold or snow INTO your bundles and burst into hysterical crying spells beyond comforting. Duncan tends to be less emotional when he's interested in being outside. By the time he's bored or done, he figures, cry with Liv - we'll get a quicker response.

Duncan and his new football from Mimi & Papa
Taken 12/25/2008 at the Wagners' Home

You're still doing very well playing together, we get a little over the top at times, but you're at the age where you easily entertain each other. Putting the crib up in your room has been an interesting adventure. You both refer to it as "Baby Rachael's Bed" and know the rules about using it to climb or scale other objects and comply fairly easily. It will be interesting to see if the addition of an actual BABY inside the crib will change that.

Olivia, and her cousins Kyla (4 yrs) and Kortney (2 yrs)
(all eating Mimi's chocolate, lol)
Taken 12/25/2008 at the Wagners' Home

We went to IKEA over the weekend to pick out some things for your room and also to pick up the linens and things we wanted for the baby. Both of you were very excited to be able to see that Rachael was going to have matching linens and that we bought special curtains JUST for your ROOM! It's frustrating being in an apartment and not being able to paint. The whimsical animals that go along with the IKEA line we've picked for your room would be adorable on the wall. That's part of the reason that I love these curtains, they bring color AND fun little animals onto some very basic, boring, wall color.

Duncan, and his cousins Zachary (10 mths) and Jordan (4 yrs)
(They were playing "drums" on the popcorn tins from Grandma Martha Wagner)
Taken 12/25/2008 at the Wagners' Home

It's so cute to see you with your baby cousins (who are rapidly racing towards their one year mark, hardly babies anymore!) and to see you making comparisons to Baby Rachael. Of course, it will also be interesting to see how disappointed you are when Rachael's not able to walk or play with the toys you've reserved for her withing 2 days of being born. Some things just take time and I'm curious to see how else you'll strive to play and connect with her. Rachael will be lucky, much like my sister Maddie, to be born into a family that not only has a Mom and Dad but also a big sister AND big brother - best of both worlds.

Well that about wraps up this month's double newsletter. And you WILL be seeing more next month. Bet your bottom (Shrek: "Bet my bottom?!" Haha, inside 2-year-old joke...) dollar and more photos to accompany them.

Duncan (2) & Olivia (4)
Christmas Eve

Love you two. :)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Christmas Morning [part 2]

Ohhh... must get these done! I've been lagging. Here are more, enjoy!

Here they are opening their presents that we were the most excited for. :) Woody and Jessie dolls! They love them. I've got some photos I'll post soon of Duncan and his Woody doll outside in the snow "shoveling with Daddy" - such a helper. :)

Honestly. How does he do it? Every time.

Cameron apparently felt the need to take a photo of me directing wrapping paper disposal. Surprise surprise.

More scrappy stuff! Yay! :)

Cam and his new slingshot monkey. :) He has too much fun with this one. Literally. ;)

Boots from Tanya! Thanks Tanya! (My first pair! Well, okay, besides the ones I wore in 2nd grade, pink cowboy boots with pink tassles... how about my first SANE pair of boots?)

Goldfish Crackers from Gma Bonnie and Gpa Bill! Thanks!

More LOTR movies. :)

Olivia's "Sleeping Beauty" church dress from Gma Tanya! She LOVES it! Thanks!

Duncan announcing "BOOTS!" as he pulled the gift out of the box, lol. From Gma Tanya, thanks! :)

Daddy and his BIG present. :)

Craftsman Tool chest! :)

Wow, okay - Christmas morning is done. :-P Phew!

Back to more normal blogging tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Christmas Morning [part 1]

Here they are... there are a LOT. :)

Waking up to see Santa Presents and inspecting the leftover cookie crumbs and milk.

Duncan's present from Santa: Don't Wake Hulk
(same idea as Don't Wake Daddy)

Olivia's Santa present: Cinderella's Enchanted Slipper Game
(VERY princess...)

Wall stickers for the both of them, Liv's: Princess, Dunk's: Cars.

Daddy's first gift
(note the strategic box and then paper placement to avoid being photographed?)
JIGSAW, woo hoo. :)

Mommy opening "The Lord of the Rings". Yay!

Duncan's gift from Aunt Laura!
He LOVES this blanket, nice and soft
- it even matches their bed linens, way to go!
Thanks Aunt Laura. :)

Olivia's gift from Aunt Laura
- she calls it her "Mermaid Blanket" because
"it looks like flowers underwater".
Thanks Aunt Laura! :)

Cameron and his Woodcraft gift from Dad
Thanks Dad!

Olivia's present from Gma Cole, a matching puzzle!
She's getting very good at matching the words with the pictures.
Loves it, thanks Gma!

Duncan and his not-yet-unwrapped Lincoln Logs Set from Mommy and Daddy. :)

Daddy's new tool set... not sure what it's even called... but I did buy it and he liked it, LOL. :)
Works, right?

Duncan's Cars book from Gma Bonnie and Gpa Bill!
Thank you!

Another post-preggo shirt from Aero, yay!

CANDYLAND! I was so excited to get this, I could hardly stand it. This was a gift I definitely didn't see coming because Cam can't stand the game, LOL. I'm so glad we can add it to our collection though. :)